Electric switch.



G. B. THOMAS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPHCATXON um MAY 16. mm.

mm Nov. 27, 1917.

3 vwewtoz GEORGE E. THOMS 32M, [44 611106142 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. THOMAS, 013 BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A-SSIGNOB TO THE BRYANT ELEC TRIO COMPANY, OF BRIDGELPOBT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

,- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nofv 27 1917.

- Application filed May 16, 1917. Serial n). 168,967.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn B. TrroMAs, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing'at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Im roved Electric Switch, off. which the to lowing is a specification.

" My invention relates to electric switches to provide and particularly. to switches of the threepoint type the object of my invention being a switch of this" type of simple and efficient construction which is more economical to manufacture than those of the same type nowon" the market.

-In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan of a switchin which my inventionis embodied in one form;-

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation;

29 *Fig. 3 is, a schematic representation of wiring connections and portions of the switch mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified construction. 7 1 The present switch embodies a modified construction for accomplishing the same 1 purpose as that of the switch -shown in'the illustrated in a switch of push button type Bates application, Serial No. 157,695 and my co-pending application, Serial No. 168,658, and dlfi'ers therefrom only in the construction of the switch bar and arran ement of the switch terminals, by which changes I am able to diminish the expense of manufacture without lessening the efliciency of the switch. The invention is here screws 18 and 19 and switch teminals 20 and 21 respectively. The U.-shapei5i switch bar 22 is struck from sheet metal rind angled to shape, one blade 23 of the bar being-adapted to engage the terminal 20 in one position of I the switch and the other blade 24 being adapted to engage the second branch terminal 21 in the opposite position of the swlt'ch. The push buttons 25 engage a rocker bar 26 shaped insulating base, a switch snap action in a well. understood manner which need not be explained in detail.

The operation of the switch is readily understood. Inasmuch as'the switch frame 14: is constantly in circuit through the strap 14, the switch bar is constantly alive". In one position of the switch it establishes connection. with the branch terminal 20 through blade 23. In the opposite position, it breaks this connection but establishes the connection between blade 24 and the second branch' terminal 21 By this construction, I have eliminated not only one of the arms of the switch bar, but also one of the switch terminals, viz.- that heretofore connected to the main wire terminal, the foot of theelatter be ing merely extended for connection to the base flange of the switch frame.

In Fig. 4, I hate shown 'a modified 'construction in which the branch terminal 27 is arranged on the same side of the switch chamber as the terminal 20, but at the opposite'end of the chamber as before. vBy this construction the blade 24 of the switch bar which operates the 'switch bar 22 with a may be eliminated since the blade 23 that connects with the terminal 20 will, on moving out of engagement therewith, make con tact with the terminal 27. The capacity of the SWltCll is in no wise limited by this modification, since the full stroke of the switch bar is retained.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a three-point electric switch a cup mechanism arranged within the switch chamber thereof, a main line wire terminal arranged in said chamber and directly connected to the frame of the switch mechanism, a switch bar mounted in said framein electrical connec ,tion therewith, in combination a pair of branch, line connections having terminals arranged in said chamber and connected alternatively with said switch bar in the opposite positions'of the switch.

2 In a'three-point electric switch, a cup-' shaped insulatin base, a switch mechanism within the cham er thereof and complrising a frame, a switch spindle journaled t erein, and switch blade means carried by, and electrically connected to, said spindle, a; main line terminal mounted on the base and elec-.

trically connected to said switch frame, to- I gether with a air of branch line terminals arranged in saidchamber and connected 211- 11 .1

ternatively with said switch blade means in the opposite positions of the switch.

3. In a three-point electric switch, a cupshaped insulating base, a switch mechanism withinthe chamber thereof and comprising a frame, a switch spindle 'journaled therein, and switch blade means carried by, and elec trically connected to, said spindle, a main line terminal mounted on the base and electrically connected to said switch frame, to- 

